USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, volume II > Part 63
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COLONEL NATHAN W. TUPPER.
The period of Colonel Nathan W. Tupper's residence in Decatur covered about nine years, during which time he firmly established himself in public re- gard as a man, as a citizen and as a lawyer. In the practice of his profession he gained a large clientage of an important character and his name is insepara- bly interwoven with the early judicial history of this district. Moreover as a veteran of the Civil war he gave his life in defense of his country.
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A native of New York, Colonel Tupper was born in St. Lawrence county, July 8, 1830, his parents being Harvey and Joanna (Willis) Tupper, who were likewise born in New York, where they resided until 1833. That year wit- nessed their removal westward to Akron, Ohio, and subsequently they became residents of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, where the death of Mr. Tupper oc- curred. Subsequently his widow became a resident of Missouri and there re- sided until called to her final home.
Colonel Tupper spent his youthful days under the parental roof, being taken to Ohio when about three years of age, and afterward accompanying his par- ents to Wisconsin. His father secured for him a farm in the latter state but agricultural pursuits had little attraction for him as he desired to enter upon a professional career. Accordingly he went to the east in order that he might supplement his earlier educational advantages by study in preparation for the practice of law. Making his way to Pottsdam, New York, he there boarded with an aunt while attending St. Lawrence Academy. Later he began teach- ing school in Pottsdam and afterward became principal of the schools at that place, but all the time he never forgot his determination to become a lawyer and his acts and studies were all directed toward that end. When his time was not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom he continued his reading in preparation for the bar, using every available hour in this way. In 1852 he re- turned to Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, and there successfully passed the re- quired examination that secured his admission to the bar. For a year there- after he continued in practice at that place but early in 1854 removed to West Bend, Washington county, Wisconsin, and in 1855 became a resident of Deca- tur, Illinois, then a small but growing town. However, it bore little resemblance to the city of the present day. All around was a vast region of wild prairie land and weeds grew in the district that now constitutes the public square of the city. There were only a few hundred inhabitants but Colonel Tupper be- lieved that opportunity was to be had here and opened a law office, forming a partnership with Mr. Thorpe, with whom he was associated for a number of years. He afterward became a partner of Judge William E. Nelson, and, open- ing an office in the Powers building, they practiced there for several years and were accorded an extensive clientage. Colonel Tupper ever prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care, and his presentation was forceful, his de- duction logical and his arguments convincing.
At the time of the Civil war Colonel Tupper put aside all business and per- sonal considerations to aid the country in the preservation of the Union and was chosen colonel of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Regiment, with which he marched to the front, participating in many important battles. In 1862 he became ill and never recovered his health throughout the remainder of his term of service. On the 7th of January, 1864, he reached Decatur and on the 10th of March following he passed away. His life was given in defense of his country as truly as that of those who fell upon the field of battle.
Colonel Tupper was married in 1853 in St. Lawrence county, New York, to Miss Lamira M. Peck, a native of Malone, New York, born February 11, 1829, and a daughter of Samuel and Myra (Hickok) Peck, who were natives of Ver- mont. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peck became residents of Malone,
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New York, where the former owned and conducted a tannery and also engaged in the manufacture of ice to the time of his death. His wife long survived him and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Tupper, in Decatur, when ninety-two years of age. Unto Colonel and Mrs. Tupper there were born three children but the eldest, Herbert Eugene, died at the age of six months. Sheri- dan is a prominent representative of the theatrical profession, having been con- nected with Roland Reed, William H. Crane and other prominent actors in ap- pearances in the leading cities of the country. He married Miss Ada Shattuck, an actress, and they make their home in New York city, although Mr. Tupper owns property in Decatur near his mother's residence and they frequently spend the summer months in this city with his mother. Emorett, the youngest of the family, died when about ten months old. Mrs. Tupper has an attractive home at No. 247 West Eldorado street, having resided in the same house for fifty- five years. She holds membership in the Presbyterian church and has an ex- tensive circle of warm friends in Decatur.
Colonel Tupper gave his political allegiance to the democratic party in early life but afterward joined the ranks of the republican party, which he stanchly advocated until his death. A contemporary biographer said of him: "He was a man of marked personality and strong individuality and the salient features of his career were such as won for him the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen. He was ever fearless in defense of his honest conviction and no trust reposed in him was ever betrayed. He gained distinction at the bar and upon the field of battle and as long as memory remains to the American people he will be honored as one whose life was given as a noble sacrifice to his country." Colonel Tupper was a man of fine personal appearance. His eyes were large, his gaze penetrating and his broad forehead indicated his strong intellect. There was also in his nature a keen sympathy that reached out to all mankind and a sense of justice that prompted his earnest support of whatever he believed to be right.
'ALBERT E. SANNER.
Albert E. Sanner, a successful and enterprising agriculturist of Milam town- ship, is the owner of four hundred and five acres of valuable and productive land on section 4. His birth occurred in Shelby county, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1869, his parents being Edward B. and Naomi (Pierson) Sanner. The father was born in Madison County, Illinois, on the 29th of April, 1839, while the mother's birth occurred at Augusta, Illinois, in the year 1840. Their marriage was celebrated at Augusta on the 18th of November, 1865. Edward B. Sanner yet makes his home in Shelby county. He and his wife have eight children, as follows: W. P., who wedded Miss Anna Otta, by whom he has seven children; Albert E., of this review; Hattie, the wife of I. J. Carr, of Macon county, who is mentioned on another page of this work; Clifford D., who is a lumber dealer and makes his home in Moweaqua, Illinois; Ruth, who gave her hand in marriage to Henry Elmer, of Penn township, Shelby county,
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and is now the mother of two daughters; Samuel, who wedded Miss Luta Ekiss, by whom he has two children; Truman Quintus, who married Miss Bernice Jones and lives with his parents in Shelby county; and Naomi, who is the wife of C. E. Coultas, resides in Shelby county and has one son.
Albert E. Sanner attended the public schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation and after putting aside his text-books remained on the home farm with his father until March, 1898. At that time he took up his abode on the farm where he now resides and where he has carried on his agricultural interests continuously since. The property now comprises four hundred and five acres on section 4, Milam township, which he has accumulated since attaining his ma- jority, having invested in land from time to time as his financial resources have permitted. In 1906 he erected a handsome modern residence, complete in every detail. He devotes his attention exclusively to the raising of grain and annually gathers rich crops which find a ready sale on the market.
In politics Mr. Sanner is a republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Epscopal church of Penn township, Shelby county. Fraternally he is identified with Dalton City Lodge, No. 114, I. O. O. F. His entire life has been spent in this part of the state and he is widely and favorably known here, enjoying the regard and friendship of all with whom he has come in contact.
D. L. BUNN.
Few deaths that have occurred in Decatur in recent years have caused such widespread and profound sorrow and regret as did that of D. L. Bunn. He was characterized as Decatur's best singer, and his musical talent was freely given for the benefit of entertainment or solace to his fellowmen. No other indi- vidual has done as much to promote and cultivate musical taste in Decatur, and the Handel Society of the city was a living monument to his interest in and ap- preciation for the art. He came to Decatur in 1855, being at that time a young man of about eighteen years.
His birth occurred on Kickapoo creek in the vicinity of Bloomington in Mc- Lean county, Illinois, September 27, 1837, his parents being the Rev. and Mrs. D. P. Bunn, whose family numbered five children, D. L. Bunn being the fourth in order of birth. He was but a young lad when the family removed to Macon county, taking up their abode in Friends Creek township, four miles from Ar- genta and just across the creek from the residence of the late Joseph D. Long. A few years were devoted to agricultural pursuits and the family then removed to Mount Pulaski. At that time Mr. Bunn's father had entered the ministry and became pastor of the Universalist church at Mount Pulaski, where he lived and labored until 1847, when he went with his family to Iowa City, which was then the capital of the state of Iowa, that had been admitted to the Union only two years before. The journey westward was made in wagons but after a year's residence in Iowa City the family returned to Mount Pulaski, again traveling by ox team, for there were no railroads in Illinois or Iowa at that
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time. Again the Rev. Mr. Bunn became pastor of the Universalist church, his circuit, however, embracing Decatur, Springfield, Clinton, Waynesville and Rochester, and in preaching the gospel he traveled from place to place on horse- back or in a buggy.
In 1852, on the establishment of the Illinois Liberal Institute, a Universalist college, at Galesburg, Illinois, now known as Lombard University, D. L. Bunn became one of its first pupils and remained a student there for three years. Fol- lowing the commencement exercises of 1855, at which time he was graduated, D. L. Bunn came to Decatur to join his parents who but a short time before had removed from Mount Pulaski to this city. Here he entered the postoffice as deputy postmaster under Colonel John P. Post, and with the opening of the public schools in the fall of 1856 he became first assistant principal of the Church Street school under Professor J. H. Remsburg. The Church Street school had just been completed and was considered a fine building. Mr. Bunn there re- mained until another school was opened in the second story of a building, at which time Mr. Bunn was made principal of that school and remained in charge for three years.
Thinking, however, to enter other professional fields, he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Captain Post and in the fall of 1862 he received from Governor Richard Yates appointment to the position of states attorney of this judicial district, then including Macon, Piatt and Moul- trie counties, while Fayette, Shelby, Champaign and Ford counties were soon afterward added. The appointment was made to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Colonel J. P. Boyd and Mr. Bunn filled out the term, covering about two years, after which he received the republican nomination for the of- fice and was elected and served the full term, so that his incumbency in the position of states attorney covered six years. On his retirement from the office he entered upon the private practice of law, which he followed alone for sev- eral years and then joined his uncle, Brower Bunn, in a partnership that was maintained for some time. In the spring of 1876 he became a partner of Ed- win Park, and the law firm of Bunn & Park remained for many years as one of the strong combinations, representing the legal interests of Decatur. For twenty-six years he occupied one office and in 1889 removed to an office over the National Bank of Decatur, there remaining until he discontinued the practice of law and thus closed his earthly labors. He was accorded a large and dis- tinctively representative clientage that connected him with much of the im- portant litigation tried in the courts of this district. He was an able and con- scientious lawyer, whose devotion to his clients' interests was proverbial and yet he never forgot that he owned a higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. He endeavored to aid the court in administering justice and never enshrouded his cause in a sentimental garb or illusion, but studied facts, evidence, prece- dent and law principle clearly and forcibly. He enjoyed in full measure the confidence and honor of his professional colleagues and associates.
On the 21st of July, 1864, in Decatur, Mr. Bunn was married to Miss Amanda M. Suits, and they became the parents of three children. Hattie, born in 1865, died at the age of seven years. Frank E. is now the tenor soloist in the choir of St. Thomas Episcopal church of New York city and spent the
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summer of 1910 amid the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Edna M. is very prominent in local musical circles, being an accomplished pipe organist and pianist of Decatur.
Mr. Bunn was ever deeply interested in questions and projects relating to the welfare, progress and upbuilding of the city in which he so long made his home. 'A prohibitionist from principle, he voted with the party during the last fifteen or twenty years of his life and was again and again made its candidate for office, showing the regard in which he was held by those who worked with him in the interests of temperance and morality. Mr. Bunn was perhaps most widely known, aside from his profession, because of his superior musical talent. His wife, too, is a singer of rare power and sweetness, having an excellent con- tralto voice. She was the leading contralto in the Universalist church from the fall of 1860 for a number of years and also officiated as organist. Their chil- dren have inherited their taste for and love of music and both have attained distinction. Mr. Bunn came to Decatur in 1855 and soon afterward was asked to sing at a funeral. The beauty and power of his fine tenor voice were at once recognized and no one in this part of the state has sung at more funerals than did Mr. Bunn. The readiness with which he would respond to a request of this character and the spirit which animated his music won him thousands of warm friends in Decatur. His labors, too, in cultivating musical taste and talent in Decatur cannot be overestimated. In the early days he was instrumental in organizing the Decatur Choral Society composed of twenty of the best singers of the city. Later he was active in organizing the Decatur Musical Union, which gave many fine concerts, including the rendition of oratorios. When the First Methodist church of Decatur dedicated its pipe organ under the auspices of the Musical Union, Marie Litta was secured to sing and on that occasion rendered a duet with Mr. Bunn. He many years afterward said of her: "My recollection of Litta is that she had no equal. I have always esteemed her as the finest singer of the country. I have heard all of the later day singers of note and none have impressed me as did the voice of Marie Litta." In later days Mr. Bunn became one of the organizers of the Handel Society, which was composed of over one hundred of the best singers of the city, Mr. Bunn acting as president from its organization until his death. He was for many years a member and leader of the Universalist choir and following the discontinuance of the Universalist church he became a director and tenor of the choir of the First Presbyterian church.
One of the local papers said of him while he was still living: "There is per- haps no one in Decatur who has been connected with the musical life of the city so long and so prominently as D. L. Bunn. He has a fine tenor voice and has without doubt sung at more funerals than any other person in this part of the state if not in the whole state. If he could sing any better when a young man than he does now he was a wonder indeed. His voice is remarkably rich, full and clear. He loves to sing. No one needs to be told that he is in the congrega- tion or choir. His voice is easily distinguished in a multitude of singers by the peculiarly sweet quality of its tone. For one of his years his voice is most re- markable for its fullness and clear sweet tones."
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So closely was Mr. Bunn's life interwoven with the history of Decatur that no record of the city would be complete without mention of him. He was a man of fine personal appearance, his broad forehead indicating strong intellec- tuality, while kindliness and congeniality beamed from his eye. He passed away in 1907, after a residence of about a half century in Decatur. He iwas everywhere respected and esteemed and by those who came within the closer circle of his friendship he was loved. The depth of his nature often found ex- pression in song that moved his hearers with wonderful power. He was gen- erous with time and talent for the benefit of others and the memory of his sweet tones and his life of uprightness remains as a blessed benediction to those who knew him.
OSCAR L. BROMLEY.
Agricultural pursuits have characterized the life record of Oscar L. Bromley throughout the period of his connection with business interests of Macon county, where his birth occurred on the 21st of December, 1872. He is a son of James P. Bromley, who was born in Ohio in 1843 and in his boyhood came to Illinois, locating first in Morgan county. Later he came to Macon county and here passed away in 1905. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Nancy I. Clif- ton, was a native of Indiana and came to Illinois with her parents at an early day. She gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Bromley in 1868, and unto this union were born seven children, Oscar L., of this review, being the second in order of birth. The mother still survives and makes her home in Decatur at the age of fifty-seven years.
The common schools of Illinois afforded Oscar L. Bromley his educational privileges, and after laying aside his text-books he devoted his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits, having mastered, during the periods of va- cation, the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. Under his father's direction he received thorough and comprehensive training in connection with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and he remained upon the old homestead until 1895. In that year he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie M. Barber, who was born in 1875 and was the youngest of seven chil- dren whose parents were Charles and Hannah Barber, residents of Illinois.
After his marriage Mr. Bromley took up farming independently and in 1900 purchased a tract of eighty acres in Milam township, Macon county, which he operated for about four years. Upon his father's death he inherited fifty-seven acres, which formed the nucleus of his present farm, and later traded his tract of eighty acres for the remainder of the farm, being now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres on section 5, Milam township. Illinois soil is proverbially rich and productive, and under the careful direction of Mr. Brom- ley his fields have been brought to a high state of cultivation, yielding annually abundant and excellent harvests. In connection with tilling the soil he engages in stock-raising, and his close application to business and his aptitude for wise management have made his enterprises fruitful and prosperous.
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In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bromley are three children, as follows: Jessie I., born March 2, 1899; Gladys, August 14, 1903; and Eunice, January 3, 1907. The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, holding member- ship in Sanner Chapel, of Milam township. Mr. Bromley is also a member of Beacon Lodge, No. 434, K. P., and his political views harmonize with the prin- ciples of the democratic party. On that ticket he was elected to the office of supervisor, which position he now occupies, and for a number of years he has acted as school director, the cause of education finding in him a stanch champion. Indeed, all matters pertaining to the material, political, intellectual and moral welfare of the community receive his hearty indorsement, and he is numbered among the county's public-spirited and loyal citizens. Attractive personal qual- ities also make him popular with a large circle of acquaintances, and the fact that many of his best friends are those who have known him from boyhood is an indication that in private life as well as in public relations his life has ever been governed by honorable principles.
COLONEL JAMES P. BOYD.
Colonel James P. Boyd is numbered among Decatur's citizens who virtually gave their lives in defense of the country during the dark days of the Civil war, for while he survived the actual hostilities at the front, his death was the direct result of his military experiences. More than four decades have come and gone since he has passed away, but he is remembered by many of the older settlers.
He was born near Bloomfield, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1820, and when a young man went to Ohio with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Boyd, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. James P. Boyd began his edu- cation in Pennsylvania and afterward continued his studies in Ohio. He then took up the occupation of farming and became the owner of two hundred acres of good land in the vicinity of Cambridge, Ohio. Later his father died and the Colonel removed to his father's place in order to cultivate that farm. Thinking, however, to find other pursuits more congenial he took up the study of law and was graduated from a law college of Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he be- gan practice in that city.
In the year 1854 he removed westward to Decatur and was admitted to practice in the courts of this state. He at once opened a law office and had be- come well established when the progress of the Civil war aroused his patriotic nature and he offered his services to the government, enlisting in the One Hun- dred and Sixteenth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, of which he became lieuten- ant colonel. The first engagement in which he participated was at Arkansas Post. Later he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, where he was wounded in June. It was not until October that he was able to return to the field. After the war he located at New Orleans, Louisiana, where he remained for three years and then returned to Decatur in ill health, passing away in October, 1869, his remains being interred in Greenwood cemetery of this city.
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Colonel Boyd had been married on the 20th of September, 1855, to Miss Susan S. Packard. Unto them were born five children who are yet living. Frank S., the eldest, is married and resides at Spokane, Washington. James P. is also married and makes his home in the city of Spokane. Iola is the wife of John Baker, a resident of Indiana, and Mrs. Ada McCollenburg and Eliza- beth are also living in Indiana.
Colonel Boyd was a believer in the teachings of the Methodist church and conformed his life to its principles. His political allegiance was given to the republican party from its organization. He was always a stanch advocate of what he believed to be right in matters of citizenship as well as in private life and his many sterling traits of character gained for him confidence and warm regard. Mrs. Boyd still makes her home in Decatur and owns a valuable resi- dence at 506 West William street, where she has lived for a number of years. She has long enjoyed the kindly esteem of those who know her and is indeed one of the best known women of Decatur, having for many years made her home here.
PETER FRANK LEHMAN.
When the early history of Macon county was in the making Peter Fr. . Lehman came to this part of the state. It was in the year 1836 and the Black Hawk war had occurred only a short time before. Central Illinois was largely unimproved and undeveloped, the native forests were uncut and the pr- were covered with the wild grasses and millions of wild flowers that marked the course of summer. Although Mr. Lehman did not remain in the county at that time he afterward returned and became closely associated with the agricul- tural interests of this part of the state.
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